Kenny G (b. 1956)

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Biography

Kenneth Bruce Gorelick is an American smooth jazz saxophonist, composer, and record producer. His 1986 album Duotones brought him commercial success. Kenny G is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with global sales totaling more than 75 million records, making him also the best-selling instrumentalist in history.

Timeline

The story of Kenny G, told in moments.

1956 Birth

Born Kenneth Bruce Gorelick in Seattle. Picked up the soprano saxophone at ten after hearing it on Ed Sullivan. Practiced obsessively. Could play standing on his head by high school.

Could you really play standing on your head in high school? What did hearing the soprano sax on Ed Sullivan do to ten-year-old you? Was practicing obsessively a choice or a need?

1986 Event

Released Duotones. "Songbird" became a soft jazz staple and elevator music shorthand. The album went triple platinum. Jazz purists immediately declared war.

Did 'Songbird' becoming elevator music shorthand bother you? Was Duotones going triple platinum despite jazz purists a victory? Do you care what jazz purists think?

1992 Life

Breathless sold 15 million copies, making it the best-selling instrumental album in history. Pat Metheny wrote a public essay calling Kenny G's music "the worst, most insipid, saccharine, hollow musical creation in the history of the universe."

How do you react to being called the worst musical creation in history? Did 15 million copies of Breathless answer Pat Metheny for you? Is the best-selling instrumental album enough of a rebuttal?

1997 Event

Set a Guinness World Record for holding a single note on saxophone for 45 minutes and 47 seconds. Used circular breathing. He'd sold over 75 million albums by then. The hate only made him more popular.

What does holding one note for 45 minutes teach you about endurance? Did the hate ever make you reconsider your music? Are 75 million albums the final word?